New environmental group East Kent Climate Action (EKCA) were out in Deal High Street on Saturday morning, talking to passers-by and encouraging them to take a few simple steps to help tackle the climate emergency.

They banded together because they felt the need to do something about the worsening crisis affecting the environment.

Chairman Sonja Watsham said: “We desperately hope the government will act on its declaration of climate emergency, but we can take matters in our own hands too.

East Kent Climate Action members at the launch outside St George's Church in Deal

"Whether it’s leaving the car at home, turning the thermostat down or not buying products containing palm oil (millions of acres of natural forests are being destroyed to make way for palm plantations), it all helps.”

People were encouraged to make pledges to combat climate change.

Trees were given out for people to plant in their gardens to help absorb CO 2.

EKCA is a new group. Its Facebook group warns of specific global warming effects on Kent.

It says: "Kent's geographical location, long coastline and population density means that it is likely to suffer from some of the severest impacts of climate change in the United Kingdom.” (KCC)

"This means more severe weather events such as droughts, heatwaves and storms. Damage to our roads, subsidence of our buildings, increased rates of death during extreme cold or hot periods, transport disruption, property damage, wild fires and sea levels rising, to name just a few."

'Whether it’s leaving the car at home, turning the thermostat down or not buying products containing palm oil, it all helps' Sonja Watsham